Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Zhang Ting) news: During the Corban Festival holiday, the International Grand Bazaar ablazed with clolorful lights, the abuzz ancient city of Kashi, the Kanas Lake “decorated” with the starry sky, and the Ili River with cool breeze...various forms of night economy bloomed across northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and presenting Xinjiang’s vitality and cultural charm.

On June 17, 2024, as the night fell, the Laojie night market in Aksu City in Xinjiang’s Aksu Prefecture started to come alive, and delicacies like samsa (roasted stuffed buns), roasted whole lamb and yogurt Zongzi started selling.

Characteristic foods and cultural and creative products attracted residents and tourists to shuttle between the stalls of commodities and foods.

“The Laojie night market is located at Yiganqi Village, Yiganqi Town in Aksu City. Recently, the night market receives about 20,000 people everyday, the inheritors of intangible cultural heritage and folk artists present characteristic performance of songs, dances Darwaz, etc., as a result, tourists can enjoy local cultures while eating delicacies, and have better tourism experiences," said Di Peirong, secretary of the Party branch of Yiganqi Village on June 17, 2024. The village encourages villagers to develop the street vendor economy, and now the number of employment and entrepreneurship in the village has reached more than 500 people.

“Come and taste our watermelons!”

“Kebab, grilled seafood, grilled durian, come and have a taste!”

At the bustling Hotan night market, vendors hawk from time to time and various handicrafts, exquisite carpets, embroidery, unique jades, jewelries, and all kinds of foods such as lamb kebabs, pilaf, roasted nang and yogurt are presented here.

In addition to food and handicrafts, Xinjiang's night markets are also a stage for cultural exchange. People wearing the traditional costumes of different ethnic groups are singing and dancing.

In recent years, Xinjiang has actively developed the "night economy," focusing on "eating, housing, traveling, tourism, shopping, entertainment." A series of night themed activities have been planned to provide residents and tourists with good destinations to spend the summer, and at the same time show Xinjiang's unique cultural charm and economic vitality.

About 1:00 a.m., the Hedi night market in Burqin County of Xinjiang’s Altay Prefecture was still brightly lit up, and there were some tourist groups who made a special tour to taste the food after visiting the Kanas scenic spot, and some who had just arrived in Burqin County and were ready to drive to the spot. At the Hedi night market, restaurants and grocery stores often open until 3:00 a.m.

Photo shows tourists at the Qicaihe leisure tourism resort in Burqin County, Altay Prefecture, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Jarhen Arepa)

As of June 17, 2024, Burqin County had received a total of 6.1708 million tourists, an increase of 21.77 percent, and achieved tourism revenue of 5.237 billion yuan (721.31 million U.S. dollars), an increase of 27.83 percent.

As one of the local "night economy" tourism projects, the number of shops in the Hedi night market has increased year by year.

Selek Kinnis, a 29-year-old Kazak young man, is a native of Burqin County, has been engaged in tourism-related industries after graduating from university, and has seen the local "night economy" develop well in these years. He runs a shop in the Hedi night market.

"In May this year, my shop opened, our family's grilled cold water fish is one of our specialties, and our business is good, we can make 2,000 yuan a day," said Selek.

More tourists bring a booming economy. Since May, 2024 major night markets in Xinjiang’s Karamay City have opened one after another to welcome visitors. Statistics from the Bureau of Commerce of Karamay City show that at present, the city's "night economy" takes 12 commercial blocks and 13 night markets as the main consuming places, providing about 4,000 shops and stalls, with an overall commercial area of more than 350,000 square meters and an average daily traffic of about 50,000 people.

Whether it is shopping malls, supermarkets or restaurants, night markets and other night consumption places are more and more lively. Camping economy, immersive experience... "night economy" continues to emerge new business forms, scenarios, and models.

In Korla City, Xinjiang’s Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, many tourists take a cruise for sightseeing the Kongquehe River and the city night scene, and the staffs on board will tell the history and cultural stories of the river to tourists, so that people can enjoy more while seeing the beauty.

In order to stimulate the vitality of night consumption, a number of catering squares, street restaurants, and night markets in Manas County, Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, have attracted tourists and boomed the "night economy" by extending business hours, improving service quality, and launching preferential promotional activities.

As night falls, the lights are lit up, and the ancient city of Kashi are decorated with colorful lanterns, and many tourists dressed in various national costumes can be seen walking in the ancient city, posing, and taking photos and videos.

In order to make tourists satisfied with the tourism services, Xinjiang has continuously promoted diversified night consumption of food, culture and entertainment in recent years, forming a rich product system of night food, night shopping, night travel, night entertainment and night appreciation.

Nowadays, Xinjiang sees more prosperity at night, and the strong pulse of the "night economy" exists everywhere in the north and south of the Tianshan Mountains.

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